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I don't how many of the jobs go south from following the pro's advice Jerry but I've gotten a fair amount of thank you IM's from people (here and elsewhere) who simply follow advice and it works out. Sure there are plenty of things that we do as techs which is difficult to convey or teach someone over the net but honest to god....key spacing really is not one of them.

Haven't you seen a lot of jobs that have gone south from DYIERS? I sure have.

I've been thanked Emmery by piano techs that need the help.

But, is key spacing the real problem here or is it warped keys? Badly installed key tops? Orrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...... Getting keys perfectly squared and perfectly level which these are neither need the right "touch."

@liza : changing the cloth on balance mortise is a simple job for the technician who have different cloth to choose from, and different calls depending of the size of the pins, small chisel to cut the old cloth (or other methods), so I suggest you ask a tech to do something for you, and he could probably make a little maintenance for one day or a little more, but and you take care of the keys yourself with his help. The cloth pins can be dismounted and provide some sort of wedge to hold the new cloth in place.. No need to press strong as it will push the glue in the cloth, very little glue is used.

Good luck. I

PS cloth thickness must be similar than original, but often 1.2 mm sometime 1.1 or 1.. There is some play with new cloth, and too much will allow the key to slant on the side so the good cloth, and a clean unglueing/cutting of the old cloth are necessary for cohérente result.

A moderate whack on the side of the mortise with a screwdriver blade will compress the wood and close the mortise a little, but but if you see the center part of the cloth or recess in front of the pin the cloth have to be changed.

Edited by Kamin (12/29/1205:11 AM)

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